who care 100 yrs from now -

My grandmother's beautiful quilts are made from my grandfather's cut up shirts and nightshirts, and from hers and my mother's cut up dresses and nightgowns. She would have been appalled at the cost of thread and fabric nowadays.

Further, time marches on. Attitudes that cling to old and time-consuming methods at the expense of modern ones aren't realistic. We don't weave our own cloth any more, nor do we spin our own thread!

I am with you, try it you might like it! That is what my mom used to say and it is still so true. Gemladi

What's your next swap, and when does it begin?

If we didn't try new things we would still be in high button shoes! We have alot of new horizons to explore.

I went to a Ricky Tims lecture and he is from small town America and he supports his local quilt shops and suggested we all do the same. He also understands that some people can only purchase fabric from discount stores and he said the important thing is to do what you love "QUILT".

I for one have seen so many beautiful old quilts that were made from every frabric available. I was fortunate enough to help put blocks together into a pattern for 5 queen size quilts from old donated fabrics from clothes. I will post some of the photos. I love quilting and will use what is needed to keep on quilting and suggest everyone do the same.

Love experiencing the learning of new things. Cannot be closed minded these days and you will lose out quickly. Variety is the spice of life..........it's what keeps things going and makes life interesting!

I think even "way back when" - whenever that was -

there were the "fancy" quilts that used "good, new" fabric - the wedding quilt, for example - made with great care

the family "everyday" ones - less expensive fabric, the odds and ends left over from making clothing - well made, but not overly labored over

"the hired man's quilts" - tended to be skimpy, made of "whatever" - probably made to hold together, but not much "extra" went into them

I think many of the women who had no such option would love having a sewing machine.

Back in the "Good Old Days" in the latter part of the 1800's a status symbol was a sewing machine. They weren't just used for decoration. They sewed clothing, and "gasp" QUILTS on those things. It was the most marvelous invention for women ever. If you go to quilt museums you will find a lot of quilts made in the 1870's on up that were pieced AND quilted on the sewing machine. Don't ever let somebody tell you that "real" quilters only do things by hand. That's an elitist attitude and comes from the fact that well-to-do women (without a job and with household help) had/have time to sit and handpiece everything.